Laundry conveyer



May 22, 1928.

W. H. BURNHAM ET AL LAUNDRY CONVEYER Filed Feb. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Z/a/fegfiagflham do/m 0 if f May 22, 1928. 1,670,401

W. H. BURNHAM ET AL LAUNDRY CON VEYER Filed Feb. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 22, 1928.

WALTER H. BUBNHAH AND JOHN E. FLOYD, OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS; SAID I'LOTD ASSIGNOR TO SAID BURNHAM. i p a LAUNDRY convnynn.

Application filed February 28, 1927. Serial Ne, 171339.

In laundries the manglers are required to handle dill'erent classes ot' articles some of which are heavier in weight and require reironing to properly dry the same. The

lnanglers are set to run at a speed sufiicient to properly iron the average run of pieces, but when heavler pieces'put through a mangler are deposited on the receiving table they mayreadily be selected for return to] the 'leedmgend of a mangler for reironing.

This invention relates to an improved type of conveyer mechanism or go back carrier for use in laundrles in combination lVlth a mangler or ironer whereby an attendant at the discharge end of the machine may sort and place pin'tiallyironed pieces in the conveyer for return to the attendant at the feedlng end of the machine for re'iron1ng,w1th

out making it necessary for the attendant at the discharge end of the machine to leave the same.

It is an object of this invention to pro vide an improvedconveyer for use in combination with a mangler or ironer to permit partially dried pieces to be conveniently returned to anattendant at the feeding end ot' the machine for reironing.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an ironer with a conveyer mechanislnto permit an attendant at the discharge end of the ironer to place improperly dried pieces in a conveyer adapted to convey said pieces into a receiving bag positioned adacent the machine at the feeding operators station and having a suitable opening therein, permitting an attendant at the feeding end of the machine to remove the improperly dried pieces from the bag and again feed the same into the ironer :for reironing.

It is an important objectof this invention to provide a laundry mangler or ironer with a conveye'r mechanism atone side of the n'xachine positioned to permit an attendant or folder at the discharge end of the ironer to sort ironed goods and deposit improperly dried pieces into one end of a conveyer which acts to automatically convey such pieces of goods upwardly to be deposited into the upper end of an adjustable bag or container from which the improperly dried pieces may be removed at intervals to permit a feeder attendant at the feeding end of the ironer to again feed said pieces into the ironer for reironing.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the "accom-' panying drawmgs.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an im proved conveyer embodying the principles of this invention shown associated with a laundry ironer illustrated 1n a schematic form.

tion taken online IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary inner side elevation of one end of the conveyer mechanism taken on line III-III of Figure 2. H

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the conveyerimechani-sm illustrated in Figurel.

Figure dis a fragmentary side elevational view taken on line V- ,V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the lower end of the conveyer taken on 1ine-VI--VI-ot Figure 4. p I V p Figure 7 is a transverse section of the conveyer taken online VII'VII of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a lower end View of the con veyer taken on line VIII-VIII of Figure Figure 9 is a transverse fragmentary detail section taken, on line IX-IX of Fig ure'fi. r i t Figure 10 is a transverse section of the bag taken on lineX-X of Figure 2.

.As shown on the drawings; v c

The reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a laundry mangler or ironer of any desired type or 'construction having a laundry receiving counter or table 2 positioned across the discharge end of the ironer in a convenient position to permit an attendant at the discharge end of the machine to receive. sort and fold the ironed pieces of laundry as they come from theironer. To permit the pieces of laundry which are not properly dried to be returned to the attendant at the feeding end of the ironeran improvedconvey'er mechanism is provided positioned at one side of the machine having one end easily accessible by the attendant at the discharge end of the machine while the other end is positioned convenient for access by an attendant at the iteedingend of'the machine. M

The improved mechauismof this invention is adjustably supported by: ropes or cables Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical detail sec- 3 each carrying a bail or yoke 4. The upper bail 4 has the ends thereof securely fastened to the opposite sides of a three sided box or container ointo the open side oi: which the upper end of two parallel chute side boards 6 project. The upper ends of the chute side boards 6 are supported by means of brackets 7 connected to the bearing supports 8 of an upper conveyer roll 9. Mounted on one end of the shaft of the upper conveyor roller 9 is a grooved sheave or pulley 10 around which an endless driving belt 11 is trained. The endless driving belt is also engaged around a sheave or small pulley 12 supported on one end of a transverse auxiliary shaft 13 which projects across the top of the conveyer chute and is journalcd in suitable bearing brackets 14 secured to the chute side boards 6. Engaged on the opposite end of the transverse shaft 13 is a sheave or pulley 15 around which an endless driving belt- 16 is trained. The belt 16 is also trained around a sheave or pulley 17 mounted on one end oi the shaft of a driving motor 18. The motor 1? is secured upon a supporting bracket 19 secured to the upper ends of the chute side boards 6.

Securely mounted on the outer side of each of the chute side boards 6 are a plurality of brackets 20 the lower ends of which have integrally formed thereon an inwardly directed arm 21 provided with a notch at 252 (Figure 7). The two opposite arms 21 are connected by a transverse bar 23 which connects the two brackets and affords a support for a chute floor or bottom board 24. The arms 21 and the cross bar 23 hold the bottom board 524: in position spaced from the lower edges of the two side boards 6. It will thus be seen that the chute comprises the two side boards 6 and the bottom board 2-1 which is spaced from the lower edges of said side boards to atiord longitudinal slots or-openings 25 which extend substantially the entire length of the chute.

These slots or openings are provided to prevent articles carried by the conveyer from becoming caught or pinched beneath the side boards and said convever.

Positioned adjacent the outer side of; the lower end of each of the side boards 6 is a bearing bracket 26 which projects downwardly below the bottom board 24. Journaled in the two bearing brackets 26 is a lower conveyor roller 27. Integrally formed or rigidly secured to each of the bearing brackets 26 is a shield or guard 28 having a curved inner edge 29. The two guards 28 are positioned with the curved edges 29 op. posite one another to afi ord a guide space permitting articles to be conveniently directed within the lower end of the chute upon an endless conveyor belt 30. The endless conveyor belt may be made of canvass or any other suitable material, and passes over the upper feed roller 9 into the chute above the bottom board 24 with the lower hight of said conveyor 30 passing around the lower roller 27 behind the shields or guards 28 and then passing upwardly beneath the chute bottom board 24 over an idler roller 3] journaled transversely beneath the chute in suitable brackets fastened to the outer sides of the chute side boards (3.

For the purpose of adiusting the tension of the endless conveyor 30 each of the brackets 26 is provided with a pair of parallel slots 33 through which set screws or locking bolts 34 engage to hold the brackets 26 rigidly secured in a set position adjacent a U- shaped supporting bracket 35 one of which is secured on the outer side of the lower portion of each of the chute side boards 6 (Figure 5). Also secured on each of the brackets 26 is an internally threaded nut or block 36 through which an adjusting screw 37 is threaded. \Vhen the set screws 34 are loosened the adjusting screw or bolt 37 is adapted to be rotated to move the respective bracket upwardly or downwardly'eithcr to loosen or tighten the belt 30. as desired. The adjusting screw 37 is supported in the. outwardly directed flanges 38 of the bracket 35.

Pieces of laundry or other articles deposited in the lower end oi the chute upon the endless conveyor 30 are adapted to be conducted upwardly and discharged over the upper end of the coveycr into the box or hopper 5. The bottom of the hopper 5 is open to permit the articles to drop thcrethrough into a spout, bag, or receptacle 39 constructed of canvas or any other suitable material. The bag 39 is substantially rectangular in shape hav mg four sides, the upper edges of which are provided with eyelets or any other suitable means whereby the bag may be rcmovably secured to the lower edge of the hopper or box 5. The. lower end of the bag 39 is closed by means of a. wooden bottom or floor 40. One side 41 of the bag is provided with an opening 42 at its lower end to permit articles to be readily taken from the bag (Figure 3). Connected to two opposite side walls of the bag are a plurality of shirr strings 4-3 which project through eyelets or sultable openings in the bag wall 41 to permit two opposite sides of the wall to be shirrcd or plaitcd, as at 41:, to cause the upper portion of the bag wall 41 to assume an inclined position to alford a guide wall or battle 1-5 in the upper portion of the bag adapted to direct the articles being deposited in said bag downwardly toward the lower rear corner of the bag in a convenlent position for removal through the opening 4-2. The shirring of the bag by the strings 43 serves to position the bottom 40 of the bag in an inclined position, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2, thereby tending to retain the articles in the lower rear portion of themangler or ironer 1 and has attached to one edge thereof one end of a cord46, the other end of which is adapted to be engaged across the outer face of the bag wall 4:1 to permit the lower end of the cord 46to be engaged in an eyelet or ring 47 attached to an opposite edge of said bag. The cord 46 may be tied to cause the bag to assume a slightly inclined position with respect to the side of the mangler or ironer I, as shown in' dotted lines in Figure 4:. This turning of the bag positions the opening 42 near the lower end thereof in a more convenient'place'topermit an attendant at the feeding end of the glangler to withdraw articles a from the ag. a The operation is as follows:

The piecesof laundry or articles to be ironed are'delivered to the feeding end of the mangler or ironer 1 where an attendant is adapted to feed the articles into the main glen The articles as they are conducted through .themangler are ironed by the rolls and are finally delivered through the discharge end of the machine ontothe receiving table 2. A second attendant or folder is positioned at the table 2 and as the ironed articles are delivered on said table inspects said articles to see that they are properly dried. than a piece. of laundryor'an article is discovered whichis not properly dried the attendant separates said articles from those that are thoroughly dried and deposits the samein the openlower end of the chute upon the endless conveyer 30. The guards 28 which cover the ends of the lower conveyer feed roller 27 prevent the article from coming in contact with the roller so that any trailing ends of the article will not l)- come tangled or caught between the roller and the brackets 26-. a The inclined edges 29 of the guards 28 form the upper ends of the guards 28 into fingers 28*wh1'ch Pro oct upwardly into the-chutea short distance to close a portion of the slots 25 and serve to with the lower roller. i

The articles which are deposited upon'the belt into the hopper or box 5, permitting the articles to dropinto the bag 39 against the inclined haflle wall or apron (Figure 2) which tends to direct the articles downwardly toward the rear wall of the bag and into the lower rear portion, thereby 0hviating any tendency for the articles to find their Way out of theopening 42. The inclined bafilc Wall 45 is formed by shirring two opposite sides of the bag by means of the four shirr strings 43, as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The shirring of two of the side walls also acts to incline the bottom 40 of the bag to form a pocket in the lower rear end of the bag for the articles deposited therein. To conveniently. tilt or turnthe bagii?) the cord lti may be tightened.

sothat the opening 42 is slightly turned at an angle with respect to the side of the man gler 1 so that the attendant at the feeding end of the inangler maymore conveniently reach into the opening42 to remove the articles or pieces of laundry from the bag so that they may again be fedwthrough the mangler to be reironed. 1

By providinga mangleror ironer with an improved conveyer mechanism of the type described a convenient arrangement is afforded for rapidly delivering improperly dried pieces of laundry from the discharge end of the mangler back to the feeding end without requiring the attendant at the dis charge end to leaveher position. This arrangement, furthern'iore, provides a considerable saving of time due to the fact that the attendant need not collect the improperly case the conveyer mechanis'm is not needed.

the samemay be pulled upwardly toward the ceiling by means of the supporting cables 3 justing the position of the chute with respect to the box or hopper'f) so that the chute may assume any desired inclination. If desired the conveyor mechanism when raised may be pivoted or swung about its upper sup port into an out of the way position to permit convenient access to the ironer when necessary. a

lVe are awarefil'liat many changes maybe 1nade,and numerous details of construction may be varied through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and: we therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

We claim asour invention:

1. The combination with an adjustable chute of means for adjustably supporting said chute, a conveyor passing through said chute, means for operating said conveyer, a hopper positioned at the upper end of the chute adapted to receive articles from said conveyor, a contamer suspended from sald which also afford a means for adlit hopper and having an opening therein to permit the articles deposited therein to be removed, and means for tilting the bottom of said container to hold articles from talling out of said opening.

2. The combination with a chute. of means for adjustably supporting said chute in an inclined position. a hopper into which the upper end of said chute projects, means for adjustably sup 'iorting said hopper. an endless conveyer passing through said chute, meanstor adjusting said conveyor. :1 driving means for operating said conveyor to cause articles deposited on the lower end thereof to be conducted upwardly through said chute to be deposited in said hopper, a bag removably supported on the lower end of said ho er and having an opening there in to permit articles deposited in said bag to be'removed therefrom, and means for shirring portions oi said bag to tacilitate removing articles from said bag through said opening.

3. The combination with a chute. of a hopper at the upper end of said chute. adjustable supporting means connected with said chute and hopper. an endless convever passing through said chute. adjustable means for tonsioning said endless conveyor, driving means supported on said chute for operating said conveyor to cause articles deposited in the lower end of said chute to be conveyed up ardly and deposited into said hopper, a bag Secured to said hopper and having an opening near the lower end thereof. means for shirring said bag to cause articles deposited therein to he directed downwardly into the rear portion of said bag away from said opening into a convenient position to he withd awn through said opening. and adjustable means connected with said bag to permit. the bag to be slightly twisted to conveniently position said opening for easy access thereto.

4. A laundry conveyer mechanism comprising achute, a hopper at the upper end thereof. adjustable means for supporting said chute and hopper. an endless conveyer adapted to travel through said chute. means for tensiouing said conveyor. a driving mechanism connected to operate said conveyer to cause articles deposited in said chute to be carried upwardly and discharged into said hopper, a flexible bag engaged on the lower end of said hopper to receive articles therefrom. said bag having an outlet opening therein, means for shirring a portion of said bag to cause a portion of one of the walls thereof to serve as a halite for directing the articles delivered into said bag downwardly toward the rear portion thereof. and means for slightly turning said shirred bag with respect to the hopper to position the opening in said bag to permitconvenient removal of an article through said opening.

5. A laundry conveyor mechanism comprising a chute, a hopper at the upper end thereof, adjustable supporting means connected to said chute and hopper. a conveyor supported on said chute, means for operating the conveyor to deliverarticles into said hopper, means for adjusting said conveyor, a flexible bag supported on said hopper and having an opening therein, a still' bottom for said bag. and means for shirring said bag to tilt said bottom and form one of the walls of said bag into an inclined guide for conducting articles received from said hopper downwardly into the rear portion of said hag upon said inclined bottom.

6. A laundry conveyor mechanism comprising a hopper, a chute projecting into said hopper, conveyor means carried by said twisted with respect to the upper end there-.

8. A laundry conveyer mechanism comprising a hopper, means for delivering articles into said hopper, a flexible bag suspended from said hopper and having an opening in the lower portion of one of the side walls thereof, a stiff bottom in said bag. a plurality of shirr strings connected to said bag to permita portion of said bag to be shirred to afford a guide for directing ar ticles into the lower rear portion of said bag upon said bottom, and adjustable means connected across one side of said bag adapted to hold said bag in a twisted position.

9. A laundry conveyer mechanism comprising a chute, a bag suspended from one end thereof, means for conveying articles through said chute for delivery into said bag, and means carried by said bag to permit the same to be held in a twisted position.

10. A laundry conveyor mechanism comprising a chute, means for supporting the same, a flexible container carried by said chute, means in said chute for delivering articles into said container. means connected with said container for shirring a portion thereof to restrict the opening throngh'said container to guide articles into a portion of the lower end thereof, and means for slight- 1y twisting said container with respect to said chute. 1

11. The combination with a conveyer mechanism, of acontainer suspended thereon to receive articles therefrom, said container having an outlet opening therein and means connected with said container for shirring a portion thereof to guide the articles delivered into said container into the lower adjusted to twist the lower end of said container with respect to the upper end thereof to position said opening in a more convenient location.

13. A laundry conveyer mechanism comprising a chute having longitudinal openings between the side walls and the bottom, an endless conveyer operating in said chute and projecting into said openings, means for actuating said conveyer to conduct articles throu h said chute, a container supported on said chute adapted to receive articles therefrom, and means for adjusting said container.

14. A laundry conveyer mechanism comprising a chute having longitudinal slots between the sidewalls and the bottom of said chute, rollers supported below said chute, an endless conveyer belt supported on said rollers and passing through said chute above said bottom with the margins of said belt projecting into said slots, means for op erating said endless conveyer belt to convey articles through said chute, mechanisms mounted on said chute for varying the tension of said conveyer belt, a hopper at one end of said chute for receiving articles therefrom, adjustable supporting means connected with said hopper and with said chute, a flexible container supported on said hopper and having an opening in one of the walls thereof, a still bottom secured in the lower end of said container to close the same, a

plurality of shirr strings connected to certain of the walls of said container to permit a portion of said container to be shirred to restrict the passage therethrough and tilt said bottom, and adjustable means connecting two edges of said container and adapted to be set to twist the lower end of said container with respect to the upper end thereof.

WALTER H. BURNHAM. JOHN E. FLOYD. 

